Aerotech EFC-1

Aerotech - EFC-1 {Component}

Contributed by Al Gloer

Construction Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Flight Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Overall Rating: starstarstarstarstar_border
Published: 2010-11-13
Manufacturer: Aerotech

Brief:
EFCattached2motorA timer based deployment system that attaches t' t' forward closure o' Aerotech style RMS motors.

Construction:
efcComponents

T' forward end piece threads into one end o' t' tube and t' other end o' t' tube threads onto a special Aerotech RMS forward closure. Ahoy! Ahoy! T' complete t' system a special plugged forward closure is required and they are currently available in 29mm, 38mm, arrr, and 54mm.

This device uses a glow plug in place o' an e-match for ignitin' t' black powder charge.

efc1GlowPlug

This is an extremely easy t' use deploment system and t' directions came on one sheet o' paper. Well, blow me down! Ya scallywag! T' electronics portion is manufactured by PerfectFlite.

T' only con I could come up with be installin' t' smoke charge in t' fwd closure. Avast, me proud beauty! Arrr! Stuffin' a greased o'rin' and plug into a sealed cavity took some effort. Arrr! Arrr! This is a great system t' use with smaller rockets that cannot be modified for dual deployment and is really a good fit with t' Warp9 propellant.

Construction Rating: 4 out o' 5

Flight:
I have flown this twice with t' AT G339N Warp9 reload in me Small Endeavor. T' original intent was t' use it with t' same reload and me MR1 for a real artillery shell like flight. Ya scallywag! That flight is yet t' come.

efcProgSW

Preparation is somewhat easy. You simply unscrew t' electronics assembly from t' outer body, hold down t' programmin' button and insert t' battery. Begad! Well, blow me down! Then release your finger from t' button. Ya scallywag! Avast! Next press t' button and hold it for t' delay time you need t' set and then release. Avast! Avast! an LED will flash t' tell you t' programmed time in seconds. Ya scallywag! Begad! Remove t' battery and wait 5 seconds. Aye aye! Reinsert t' battery, matey, t' lamp will flash t' delay time and then indicate armed. Avast, me proud beauty! You can easily test t' delay time by givin' t' device a swin' at t' end o' your arm. Avast! Aye aye! Nice thin' here is you don't have t' go through an e-match t' test.

Screw t' board back into metal tube and then you can screw that assembly onto t' end o' t' forward closure when ready. Well, arrr, blow me down! Add in t' BP, a bit o' wadding, and tape it as you would any other ejection charge.

It's that easy. Avast! Aye aye! As for assemblin' t' smoke charge in a plugged motor, that is another discussion and for me involves considerable coarse language and a sedative.

Recovery:
Keep in mind that this is a G-switch activated timer and needs t' sense 2G for .2 seconds t' arm itself. Avast! O' course you need t' include t' burn time o' t' motor, however with a Warp9 that is really nay much t' think about.

Also, this device has no altimeter function and does nay provide any flight data.

Flight Rating: 4 out o' 5

Summary:
A perfect fit for use with t' Warp9 reloads and smaller rockets that you would like t' tailor t' ejection time (single deploy)without t' added work o' buildin' an avionics bay. Avast! If Aerotech can come up with a variant that is altimeter based, matey, I will have that in me sticky paws 5 minutes after it is for sale.

Overall Rating: 4 out o' 5

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